US embassy cable - 05MANILA1909

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 001909 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR INL AND INL/AAE, DS/DSS/ATA, DS/IP/EAP 
STATE ALSO FOR S/CT/CHANDLER/FUJIMURA, EAP AND EAP/PMBS 
JUSTICE FOR ICITAP, OPDAT AND OIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KCRM, SOCI, KCOR, PTER, PGOV, PINS, ASEC, RP 
SUBJECT: PROPOSED MOU FOR THE "MAPP" 
 
REF: A. MANILA 1889 
     B. MANILA 1792 
     C. 04 MANILA 5502 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request -- see para 4. 
 
2.  (U) Noting that the Philippine National Police (PNP) -- 
at the instigation of Philippine Ambassador to Washington Del 
Rosario -- was now interested in pursuing a "Management 
Assessment of the Philippine Police" with the USG that would 
parallel the ongoing Philippine Defense Reform initiative, 
Police Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman of the PNP's 
Directorate for Plans conveyed to Embassy a draft "Memorandum 
of Understanding (MOU) On the Conduct of the Management 
Assessment of the Philippine National Police (MAPP)," with a 
request for comments.  (Full text in para 5.)  Ticman 
specified that the PNP had prepared the MOU for possible 
signing during the May 17 meeting of Foreign Secretary 
Alberto Romulo with Secretary Rice.  Assistant Secretary of 
Foreign Affairs for American Affairs Ariel Abadilla and North 
American Affairs Director Marc De Borja separately confirmed 
the DFA's high interest in this project as an item at least 
discussion -- and possibly as an important deliverable -- 
during the Foreign Secretary's visit.  The GRP may also raise 
this request during Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick,s May 
10 discussions in Manila (ref a). 
 
3.  (SBU)  Comment:  We have explained to the PNP and DFA 
that the USG had not yet formally decided on how to proceed 
with this proposal from Embassy (ref c).  Embassy continues 
to view the MAPP as an essential next step in encouraging 
systemic reform within the PNP, our other key partner (in 
addition to the Armed Forces of the Philippines) in the 
Global War on Terror, as well as on counternarcotics 
programs, anti-trafficking in persons efforts, and other law 
enforcement issues.  The initiative of the DFA and PNP in 
trying to jump-start this project appears clearly to reflect 
the importance the GRP has already assigned to this effort. 
We believe the GRP will welcome this bilateral cooperation in 
devising a roadmap toward overdue systemic change in the PNP 
through the MAPP, and urge USG support.  We may wish, 
however, to insist on some level of PNP financial support for 
this project, as the Department of National Defense is 
providing in the PDR.  End comment. 
 
4.  (SBU) Action request:  Please provide by May 6 a response 
to this draft MOU as well as possible talking points for the 
Secretary's and Deputy Secretary's use in their May 17 and 
 
SIPDIS 
May 10 meetings with GRP counterparts, respectively. 
 
5.  (SBU) Draft text of the GRP draft MOU follows: 
 
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING MOU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF 
THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES GRP) AND THE UNITED STATES 
GOVERNMENT (USG) ON THE CONDUCT OF MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT OF 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (MAPP) 
 
I.    Overview 
 
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and 
the United States Government (USG) have established a strong 
bilateral relationship through their various cooperative 
efforts especially in the field of law enforcement.  However, 
the GRP's capacity to respond on the security and law 
enforcement concerns of the USG is primarily anchored on the 
former's capability to maintain an effective, efficient, and 
responsive police force ) the Philippine National Police 
(PNP). 
 
The GRP acknowledged that the PNP is experiencing 
institutional deficiencies, weak training system, poor 
internal controls, and unrealized strategic vision.  It is 
for this reason that a comprehensive framework is essential 
for the PNP to transform itself into a modern and 
professional police force, serving a democratic society. 
While it is also recognized that the PNP has undergone and is 
embarking on a series of reform efforts, it is understood 
that there still exists an opportunity to reinforce and 
accelerate these PNP reform initiatives. It is to be 
acknowledged that reforming the PNP will greatly contribute 
to national and regional stability. 
 
In view of the urgent need to come up with a comprehensive 
framework for PNP reform program, it is understood that both 
governments will jointly conduct a management assessment of 
the PNP. 
 
II.  Objectives of the MAPP: 
 
A joint RP-US &Management Assessment of the PNP8 (MAPP) 
shall endeavor to: 
 
1.  Identify and prioritize key PNP institutional weaknesses 
and lay out a road map on how to address them; 
2.  Identify institutional shortcomings and provide concrete 
recommendations for corrective action, covering the areas  of 
 human resource management (recruitment, selection, 
placement, training and education, promotion, retirement), 
budgeting and financial management, logistics management, 
organization, professional standards, operational procedures, 
policy development and implementation, strategic planning and 
management continuity; and 
 
3.  Develop an implementation plan. 
 
III.  Desired Outcomes: 
 
The MAPP is expected to: 
 
1.     Bring about a strategic framework in 
prioritizing/optimizing PNP resources and US assistance 
programs that will improve the law enforcement capacity of 
the PNP; 
 
2.     Allow better integration of all US law enforcement 
assistance programs and create synergies with other 
international donors' law enforcement assistance programs; and 
 
3.     Engage the GRP in committing to sustain the 
transformation of the PNP into a democratic and professional 
police force. 
 
IV.  Methods and Procedures in Conducting the MAPP: 
 
The MAPP must be a collaborative undertaking between the USG 
and the GRP through the pairing of experts.  The USG shall 
identify multi-disciplinary experts from its various law 
enforcement arms (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug 
Enforcement Agency, Department of Homeland Security, among 
others) to work closely with PNP experts in conducting the 
MAPP.  A joint Assessment Team (JAT) shall be composed of 
these experts from both governments and shall be Co-Chaired 
by senior representatives from both sides.  The JAT shall be 
assisted by a secretariat composed of PNP personnel. 
 
The MAPP shall be conducted by comparing local conditions 
against those considered as law enforcement standards and 
&best practices8.  This will be undertaken through 
interviews, direct observations, focus group discussions, 
surveys, and task/process analysis. 
 
The GRP shall ensure the availability of all required 
personnel, documents and facilities  while the USG shall 
provide funding in the conduct of the MAPP. 
 
It also to be understood that the GRP shall endeavor to fully 
comply to the recommendations of the MAPP and the USG shall 
provide financial support in order to achieve the desired 
outcomes of the MAPP. 
 
V.     Time Frame: 
 
The MAPP shall be conducted for a period of three (3) months 
from the time this MOU is signed  by the representatives of 
both governments. It shall be conducted in three (3) phases: 
 
Phase I     - Management  Assessment (9 weeks) 
Phase II - Preparation of Report (2 weeks) 
Phase III - Validation (1 week) 
 
VI.  Limitations: 
 
This Memorandum of Understanding shall be implemented in 
accordance with each country's domestic laws and regulations 
and in accordance with their international obligations. 
 
VII.  Settlement of Disputes: 
 
Any dispute regarding the interpretation or implementation of 
this MOU shall be resolved through consultation and 
negotiation between the two governments through diplomatic 
channel and will not be referred to any Third Party or 
tribunal for resolution. 
 
For the Government of the United States of America: 
 
For the Government of the Republic of the Philippines: 
Ricciardone